GBRA, private group both set meetings to discuss Lake Wood hydroelectric dam

GONZALES – Following the failure of the hydroelectric dam gate at Lake Wood, the Guadalupe River has once again taken on its natural path and with the one-year anniversary of the failure nearing, meetings are scheduled by two separate groups to discuss options for the dam and the future of Lake Wood.

Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority staff are expected to provide information about the hydroelectric system, dam gate replacement options for Lake Wood and potential funding opportunities for the gate replacement at their upcoming meeting.

Local constituents are invited to attend the meeting, see the presentations and address questions to GBRA staff.

According to GBRA, there is not enough hydroelectric revenue to fund gate replacements that are needed, which could come at a cost as high as $5 million each.

There are 15 Guadalupe Valley Hydroelectric System dams at six lakes; and they are all at least 85 years old. They all need eventual attention.

It has been said that funding through rate hikes is not practical because of the state’s utility rate regulations, customer contracts and economic conditions. The next limitation with funding the GBRA faces is having no taxing authority.

According to GBRA, officials have been actively exploring financing options for gate replacement, including government and private grants. Other funding sources also are being discussed with stakeholder groups including homeowners associations that are in close proximity to the hydro lakes. GBRA officials have met with some of those groups, many of whom are interested in learning more about the Lake Wood situation and the aging hydroelectric system.

According to GBRA, these stakeholder groups have been discussing the dams in Guadalupe County and one option for possible funding is the creation of a special-purpose district with the ability to raise funds to help pay for extraordinary maintenance on the dams and associated gates. GBRA and the stakeholders are looking at various types of special-purpose districts and exploring methods of generating revenue from people who use the lakes.

Homeowners, property owners and Gonzales residents with an interest in the lakes are also exploring options. They are reaching out to county and legislative representatives to ask questions.

GBRA officials have not met with the homeowners group in Gonzales County, but they have met with individual homeowners, county officials and legislative representatives to update them about Lake Wood.

GBRA has engineers analyzing dam gate options and officials say once the analysis is complete GBRA will continue to discuss funding options, because finding the necessary revenue will be the next big step to moving forward.

Many in the Gonzales group have voiced their concern over falling property values and loss of recreation and revenue. They have also spoken out about loss of wildlife and trees.

According to GBRA, the dams were created to generate hydroelectric power. The dams are not for flood control and not for recreation.

The Gonzales group maintains GBRA has made no reasonable effort to take action and now the group plans to utilize the meeting at Lake Wood to announce plans to contact the Governor's Office, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Sierra Club.

GBRA officials will host a public meeting on issues involving Lake Wood and the H-5 dam gate at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at the JB Wells Expo Center.

The Gonzales interest group has scheduled its own meeting at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Public Boat Ramp at Lake Wood.